Archive | Periodontal Disease

“It’s like pulling teeth” may be an expression you use when getting your kids to pick up their toys or do their homework, but nothing is like pulling teeth than actually getting your teeth pulled. Often, patients who are chronic tobacco users, have poor dental hygiene, or extreme periodontal disease need to have their teeth pulled due to decay and erosion.

Just like with any surgical procedure, following the proper care instructions will prevent you from developing an oral infection.

Keep your Head Elevated

If you sleep flat on your back, this tip may be especially annoying to follow, but it’s important. Keeping your head elevated will help prevent excessive bleeding. Try elevating your head with two pillows for the first couple of nights.

Avoid Toothpaste

It may sound counterintuitive, but you shouldn’t use toothpaste for the first week after your extraction. The foam from your toothpaste can result in dry sockets. To clean your teeth, try dipping your toothbrush in a little bit of mouthwash and gently brush your teeth— avoiding the surgical area.

Don’t Rinse

One of your initial instincts to get blood out of your mouth may be to rinse with some water, but rinsing after a tooth extraction can lead to a dry socket. Avoid rinsing your mouth for about one to two weeks after your surgery.

Apply Pressure

For the first day or two, try to apply frequent pressure to the surgical area by biting down on a clean gauze pad or a damp tea bag. The frequent repetition of the pressure will help decrease the bleeding— just make sure to change out the pad frequently to avoid a bacterial infection.

After your tooth extraction, we will send you home with a detailed list of care instructions. Learn more about tooth extractions and care instructions and contact Dr. Janice Scott today!

Next, to the common cavity, gingivitis is one of the most prevalent oral conditions that Dr. Janice Scott treats patients for. As the earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis is easy to spot and treat— especially when it’s caught so early on. To help you prevent against this issue from getting worse, this article will discuss three signs that you have gingivitis. Read on to learn more.

Sign #1: Swollen Gums

Having swollen gums can be the culprit of an accident, injury, or something as simple as having some food trapped between your teeth. However, if your swelling persists or gets worse over the span of just a few weeks, then this may be a sign that you have gingivitis. By getting excess plaque and tartar removed from your teeth, the swelling should go down over just a day or two.

Sign #2: Bleeding Gums

If you get punched in the mouth, your gums are going to bleed, but if you are just brushing your teeth and they start to bleed, this is a huge indicator that you have gingivitis. Because your gums are already so irritated, gingivitis can cause even the smallest things like biting into an apple to cause your gums to bleed.

Sign #3: Tender Gums

Have you noticed that your gums are a bit more tender than usual? Do they hurt to the touch? In addition to the symptoms listed above, tender gums are also indicative of gingivitis. Because gingivitis is an infection, it can make your gums extremely sensitive.

As long as it is taken care of early on, gingivitis is an oral condition that is easily treated with the help of Dr. Janice Scott. With an extensive cleaning, Dr. Scott should be able to get rid of excess plaque and tartar and stop your gingivitis from getting worse. If you would like to learn more about gingivitis or gingivitis treatment, contact Dr. Janice Scott today to schedule an appointment.

A receding hairline and receding gums are two things you don’t want to add to your list of things you have. However, sometimes no matter how hard you try to stop these things from happening, you end up bald and with gingivitis. As one of the most common oral illnesses that patients face, receding gums can be painful and uncomfortable. Luckily, Dr. Janice Scott has years of experience in treating patients who have receding gums. From deep cleaning to gum grafting, this article will discuss a few ways that Dr. Scott treats receding gums. Read on to learn more.

Combat Early Stages With Deep Cleaning

If you are in the early stages of gingivitis and are just starting to exhibit symptoms of gum disease, then Dr. Scott may only recommend a deep cleaning. By removing excess plaque and tartar from your teeth and near your gum line, you can help to protect your teeth from further erosion. Additionally, during a deep cleaning, the gums will also be smoothed out to help encourage the attachment of the gums to the teeth to prevent against further recession. A deep cleaning will also help Dr. Scott to take a closer look at the problem to determine what steps, if any, are necessary to take next.

Gum Grafting

If you are in the later stages of gingivitis, then Dr. Janice Scott may recommend gum grafting. Gum grafting is done to encourage gum tissue to regenerate and cover vulnerable areas of the mouth such as the root. There are different types of gum grafting procedures including Connective Tissue Grafting, Gingival Grafting, and Pedicle Grafting.

Connective Tissue Grafting: This procedure involves harvesting tissue from the root of the mouth and then stitching it around the tooth in connection with gum tissue.

Gingival Grafting: Similar to Connective Tissue Grafting, this procedure harvests the tissue from the palate.

Pedicle Grafting: This type of grafting collects the tissue from the adjacent tooth.

Schedule A Consultation

During your bi-annual cleanings with Dr. Janice Scott, your mouth will be inspected for oral health concerns like receding gums. The sooner this issue is detected, the easier it will be to treat. If you have any symptoms of gum disease and would like to schedule an examination with Dr. Janice Scott, call our office at (209) 478-3036 today!

When you typically think about the term “massage” things such as a back massage or foot massage likely come to mind. But did you know that massage is actually a technique that can be used to help ease any oral pain that you may be suffering from as well? Whether you are suffering from something like gingivitis, tooth sensitivity, or you simply have something lodged in between your gums, adding massage to the healing process (along with visiting Dr. Janice Scott) will help your gums to heal at a quicker rate than otherwise. Read on to learn more about massage.

How to Massage
There are a few different ways that you can massage your gums. The first one involves your finger and the second one involves using a water flosser.

Finger Massage: When using your finger to massage your gums, take the pointer finger on your dominant hand and start at the bottom of your gums applying a slight bit of pressure. Then move your finger in a slow and circular motion. You should feel a little bit of tension but not pain. If you are feeling pain, then stop right away.

Water Flosser: Water flosser’s aren’t only great tools used to get trapped food out from in between your teeth but they are also good at massaging sore gums as well. When using a water flosser for this purpose, make sure the water is luke warm because it will help to soften up the gum tissue. Then simply turn the water flosser on and move it around your mouth focusing on your gums and making sure the pressure isn’t either too strong or too weak.

Importance of Massage
Gently massaging your gums can help to break up any tissue or bacteria that are contributing to any pain that you may be experiencing. As a way to alleviate pain and discomfort throughout your body, oral massage can help give your mouth that same instant relief.

If you would like to learn more about dental care or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Janice Scott, contact our office today!

“Gingivitis” is a term that everyone associates with the plague of your mouth. And although gingivitis is a dental disorder that is less than ideal to have, it is something that can be easily treated, especially if caught early on. If you suspect that you have gingivitis, or gum disease, but you aren’t quite sure what symptoms you should be looking for, read on.

1.Bleeding Gums
If you brush your teeth especially hard or are hit in the mouth with blunt force and your mouth starts to bleed, that is normal. However, if you are simply brushing your teeth regularly or are flossing them and your gums start to bleed, then this is a sign that you have gingivitis. Gingivitis causes your gums to become inflamed and irritated which can cause them to be more prone to bleeding.

2.Bad Breath
It’s one thing to have garlic breath after enjoying a nice Italian meal but if you have chronic bad breath that you just can’t seem to cover up or get rid of, no matter how hard you try, then you may be suffering from gingivitis. Bad breath within itself is a large indicatory of some type of oral infection—like gingivitis.

3.Tender Gums
Does it seem like your gums are more tender than they used to be? Does it hurt everytime you rub your finger over your gums? Sore gums are another strong indicator that you have gum disease. Because the tissue in your gums will be irritated, things such as brushing or eating can exacerbate the issue and cause your gums to feel tender to the touch.

Gingivitis is something that is easily treatable from a dentist like Janice Scott. If you are concerned that you have gingivitis and are suffering from any or all of the symptoms above, contact Dr. Janice Scott’s office today to learn more!

It is unfortunate but true that, even in the 21st century, more than half the adult population still suffers from periodontal (gum) disease. In fact, even with the technological and medical advances that have been made over recent years, there are still many people whose overall dental health needs improvement. This is where practitioners from Deer Park Dental can help to provide the necessary corrective measures that many people need. We provide the following:

A family friendly atmosphere in which you can discuss any dental issues you may have

We cater to the dental needs of all family members, whatever their age

Periodontal disease does not have to lead to gum and bone damage or tooth loss

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease refers to the problems surrounding the gums after they have become infected and inflamed, due to the presence of bacteria around and below the gum line. We encourage people not to leave this matter untreated, as over time, the bacteria can cause gums to recede from the teeth. This can lead to bone damage, severe discomfort and even tooth loss.

We can help you prevent periodontal disease in the first place through regular checkups

Our caring and compassionate staff can help you with all of your dental conditions

Assessing for Periodontal Disease

It is important to be able to recognize the early signs and symptoms of periodontal disease and because of this. We offer extensive educational and counseling services so that our patients are aware of the dangers, the preventative measures to take and treatment options available. You can schedule an appointment with us to have your dental condition assessed for periodontal disease or any other conditions, whether you are an existing patient or a newcomer.

Our dental team at Deer Park Dental is ready to serve you and to help bring out your best smile.

Assessment with the aid of a digital x-ray is carried-out to get a detailed dental image

Periodontal probing takes place to assess the presence of gum pockets

X-rays are used to assess the condition of the gum and bone before planning treatment

Choose us to cure your Periodontal Disease

Our medical team is dedicated to solving your dental issues and is committed to the wellbeing of all of our patients. Our dental experts will be there to help you through the decision-making process and through each procedure you experience. We understand the need for a caring, professional team to inform and provide patients with the support they need.

We are very thorough in our treatment and will guide you through each process

Our medical team is sympathetic and concerned about your dental and medical well-being